The replication machinery of LUCA: common origin of DNA replication and transcription

Eugene Koonin (1) , Mart Krupovic (2) , Sonoko Ishino (3) , Yoshizumi Ishino (3)

1 NLM - National Library of Medicine
2 Virologie des archées - Archaeal Virology
3 Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology [Fukuoka]

Origin of DNA replication is an enigma because the replicative DNA polymerases (DNAPs) are not homologous among the three domains of life, Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya. The homology between the archaeal replicative DNAP (PolD) and the large subunits of the universal RNA polymerase (RNAP) responsible for transcription suggests a parsimonious evolutionary scenario. Under this model, RNAPs and replicative DNAPs evolved from a common ancestor that functioned as an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase in the RNA-protein world that predated the advent of DNA replication. The replicative DNAP of the Last Universal Cellular Ancestor (LUCA) would be the ancestor of the archaeal PolD.

Domains: Life Sciences [q-bio]; Biodiversity; Populations and Evolution [q-bio.PE]; Life Sciences [q-bio]; Life Sciences [q-bio]; Biochemistry, Molecular Biology; Life Sciences [q-bio]; Microbiology and Parasitology; Virology

Eugene Koonin, Mart Krupovic, Sonoko Ishino, Yoshizumi Ishino. The replication machinery of LUCA: common origin of DNA replication and transcription. BMC Biology, 2020, 18 (1), pp.61. ⟨10.1186/s12915-020-00800-9⟩. ⟨pasteur-02862286⟩